The German city of Mainz has become the latest 'wine capital' to join the wine tourism network, Great Wine Capitals.
The others are Bordeaux, Cape Town, Florence, Mendoza, Melbourne, Oporto, Bilbao-Rioja and San Francisco-Napa.
I'm pleased to see they are expanding, as I really think this is a great idea, and as I follow wine tourism closely, particularly in Bordeaux of course, it's great to see official bodies helping to make it economically viable. I have also been lucky enough to visit all of these wine capitals (excepting Mainz!) and know they really are worthy of recognition.
From the press release:
Meinz is the capital of the German state Rheinland-Pflaz, the most famous wine region in Germany. It is home to the German Wine Institute, the German Wine Fund, and the Verband Deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter Wine Bourse, which brings together the top winemakers of Germany with the wine merchants of the world.
Six out of all thirteen wine regions for quality wine in Germany (Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Mosel, Nahe, Mittelrhein and Ahr) are located in this area. The state is also the only one in Germany to have appointed a wine minister. Today, some vineyards are planted in the city itself, and the old districts of the town house many crowded WeinStube (wine restaurants) where they serve regional food with local Riesling, Muller Thurgau and Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir).
Mainz will now be eligible for this year’s Best of Wine Tourism awards that in 2007 saw over 320 properties from five continents competing for the titles. This year’s international ceremony will be held in Cape Town in November 2008.
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